PFD report

Jane Louise Reason · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 25 Oct 2016•Birmingham and Solihull

Report record

Published report and response evidence

This page connects the concerns raised in this report with statements found in recipients’ published responses. A link shows a clear evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

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Concerns
3

Raised in this report

Recipients
6

Named on the report

Responses found
4

Of 6 recipients

Stated actions
25

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Source document

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised3

  1. Insufficient public education in the use of public access defibrillators
  2. Inadequate placement of public access defibrillators
  3. Insufficient availability of public access defibrillators in colleges and schools
Responses linked to these concerns

Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

Actions described in response An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.8

  1. Action

    Publish a guide on automated external defibrillators.

    Stated by Department for EducationStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 October 2016.
  2. Action

    Publish guidance on automated external defibrillators relevant to further education colleges.

    Stated by Department for EducationStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 October 2016.
  3. Action

    Develop a guide explaining automated external defibrillators and their community deployment.

    Stated by British Heart FoundationStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 October 2016.

Respondent positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when it does not describe a specific action.3

  1. Position

    Public-policy CPR and defibrillator programmes cannot be carried out as public policy because the organisation is neither a government institution nor public authority.

    Stated by British Heart FoundationOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Insufficient public education in the use of public access defibrillators

Wider context from the report

“1. Evidence at the inquest confirmed that the greatest chance of survival following an arrhythmic out of cardiac arrest is with early defibrillation and CPR. I heard evidence that there was a need for more public access defibrillators particularly in colleges and school. Further consideration needs to be given to the placement of public access defibrillators and education of the public in their use. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Inadequate placement of public access defibrillators

Wider context from the report

“1. Evidence at the inquest confirmed that the greatest chance of survival following an arrhythmic out of cardiac arrest is with early defibrillation and CPR. I heard evidence that there was a need for more public access defibrillators particularly in colleges and school. Further consideration needs to be given to the placement of public access defibrillators and education of the public in their use. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Insufficient availability of public access defibrillators in colleges and schools

Wider context from the report

“1. Evidence at the inquest confirmed that the greatest chance of survival following an arrhythmic out of cardiac arrest is with early defibrillation and CPR. I heard evidence that there was a need for more public access defibrillators particularly in colleges and school. Further consideration needs to be given to the placement of public access defibrillators and education of the public in their use. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Publish a guide on automated external defibrillators.

Verbatim wording from the response

“My department published a guide on automated external defibrillators in April 2016, which is available at: tinyurl.com/zn82vva. Since this tragic incident, we have published new guidance that is more relevant to further education colleges. I shall be writing to the Association of Colleges to draw this guidance to the attention of their members.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-Department-for-Education
Page 1 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Publish guidance on automated external defibrillators relevant to further education colleges.

Verbatim wording from the response

“My department published a guide on automated external defibrillators in April 2016, which is available at: tinyurl.com/zn82vva. Since this tragic incident, we have published new guidance that is more relevant to further education colleges. I shall be writing to the Association of Colleges to draw this guidance to the attention of their members.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-Department-for-Education
Page 1 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Develop a guide explaining automated external defibrillators and their community deployment.

Verbatim wording from the response

“In conjunction with the Resuscitation Council we have recently developed “A guide to Automated External Defibrillators” which provides information about PADs and how they can be deployed in the community to help resuscitate victims of sudden cardiac arrest.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-British-Heart-Foundation
Page 3 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Contribute to a national framework recommending improved public access defibrillator availability and cardiac arrest care.

Verbatim wording from the response

“• Collaboration We regularly work with statutory and non-statutory organisations where we share common aims in order to promote the use of PADs. We have been contributing a major project with the Department of Health to produce a national framework to improve the treatment of patients with cardiac arrest (Resuscitation to Recovery: A National Framework to improve care of people with Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) in England. 2016) This document makes specific recommendations with regards to improving availability of PADs.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-Resuscitation-Council-UK
Page 2 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Organise public Restart a Heart Day events that train children and young people in basic life support.

Verbatim wording from the response

“• Education We recognise education facilitates many of the aims of the RC (UK). We work closely with UK ambulance service, other first aid organisations and the European Resuscitation Council to encourage all members of the public to learn first aid (BLS and AED use). In the UK, we have recently organised the annual ‘European Restart a Heart Day’ which through hundreds of events that took place across the UK, trained over 150,000 children and young people in basic life support.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-Resuscitation-Council-UK
Page 1 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Work with the Department of Health to oversee distribution of £1,000,000 funding for public access defibrillators across UK communities.

Verbatim wording from the response

“• Improving the availability of AEDs We are currently working with the Department of Health to oversee the distribution of £1,000,000 funding for public access defibrillators across communities in the UK. After extensive public consultation, we have redesigned the signage to be used for all PADs in order to improve the visibility of the devices and increase their use at cardiac arrests in public areas.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-Resuscitation-Council-UK
Page 2 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Publish guidance explaining automated external defibrillators and their deployment in communities.

Verbatim wording from the response

“• Guidelines The RC (UK) is a contributor to international and European resuscitation guidelines from which are distilled the UK resuscitation guidelines. We work with key first aid organisations (e.g. ambulance service, RNLI, St John etc.) to ensure that recommendations relating to bystander CPR and defibrillation are disseminated as appropriate throughout the entire UK. Additionally, in conjunction with the British Heart Foundation, we have recently published ‘A guide to Automated External Defibrillators’ which is designed to provide information about AEDs and how they can be deployed within the community to help resuscitate a victim of sudden cardiac arrest.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-Resuscitation-Council-UK
Page 2 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Campaign for mandatory basic life support and automated external defibrillator teaching for schoolchildren.

Verbatim wording from the response

“We have been campaigning at all levels to make BLS and AED teaching mandatory for all school children. Although disappointing we have not managed to make this mandatory part of the school curriculum, our campaign has undoubtedly raised the need for this training and improved the numbers of school children who are taught these vital life skills.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-Resuscitation-Council-UK
Page 1 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Public-policy CPR and defibrillator programmes cannot be carried out as public policy because the organisation is neither a government institution nor public authority.

Verbatim wording from the response

“In summary we are actively engaged in providing access to training resources to teach CPR skills and PAD familiarisation on a range of programmes and provide access to funding for PADs but we have no authority to carry out these programmes as a matter of public policy as we are not a government institution or public authority. However, the BHF recommends that all young people are given access to CPR training and defibrillator awareness while at secondary school and ask that you support this recommendation by communicating this to the Department for Education.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-British-Heart-Foundation
Page 4 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

The Council has no power to mandate public access defibrillator provision or mandatory basic life support and defibrillator education.

Verbatim wording from the response

“In summary, whilst being actively engaged with the above requirements, we have no power to mandate these. We would ask that your recommendations are shared with the Department of Education, in particular that all children are trained in BLS and defibrillator awareness as a mandatory part of the curriculum.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-Resuscitation-Council-UK
Page 2 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Recommendations for mandatory basic life support and defibrillator training should be directed to the Department for Education.

Verbatim wording from the response

“In summary, whilst being actively engaged with the above requirements, we have no power to mandate these. We would ask that your recommendations are shared with the Department of Education, in particular that all children are trained in BLS and defibrillator awareness as a mandatory part of the curriculum.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-Resuscitation-Council-UK
Page 2 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Other statements in published responses

These actions and other statements could not be clearly connected to one concern in this report.

Recipient-stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.17

  1. 1

    Write to the Association of Colleges to draw the further education guidance to members’ attention.

    Stated by Department for EducationStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 25 October 2016.
  2. 2

    Deliver national awareness campaigns and associated resources and training events promoting bystander CPR.

    Stated by British Heart FoundationStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 October 2016.
  3. 3

    Work with the UK Resuscitation Council to redesign public access defibrillator signs to improve visibility and bystander use.

    Stated by British Heart FoundationStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 October 2016.
  4. 4

    Implement research findings in clinical practice to help families affected by inherited heart conditions receive appropriate care quickly.

    Stated by British Heart FoundationStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 October 2016.
  5. 5

    Continue supporting Heartstart schemes that teach first aid, choking, bleeding and CPR skills.

    Stated by British Heart FoundationStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 October 2016.
  6. 6

    Provide a Genetic Information Service supporting families affected by inherited heart conditions and advising coroners on referrals for surviving relatives.

    Stated by British Heart FoundationStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 October 2016.
  7. 7

    Provide grant funding for a UK-wide out-of-hospital cardiac arrest registry to support service-improvement audit.

    Stated by British Heart FoundationStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 October 2016.
  8. 8

    Provide free CPR training kits and support CPR training through schools, community groups, workplaces and partner organisations.

    Stated by British Heart FoundationStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 October 2016.
  9. 9

    Provide community groups with part funding to purchase public access defibrillators and manage distribution of the Department of Health PAD funding project.

    Stated by British Heart FoundationStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 October 2016.
  10. 10

    Meet with the Chief Coroner for England to raise awareness of the Genetic Information Service among coroners and coroners’ officers.

    Stated by British Heart FoundationStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 October 2016.
  11. 11

    Convene expert advisory groups and participate in collaborations developing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest strategies and national resuscitation frameworks.

    Stated by British Heart FoundationStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 October 2016.
  12. 12

    Review options for developing a national public access defibrillator database accessible to ambulance services.

    Stated by British Heart FoundationStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 October 2016.
  13. 13

    Fund research projects on resuscitation and defibrillation to improve knowledge and use of automated external defibrillators.

    Stated by Resuscitation Council UKStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 October 2016.
  14. 14

    Collaborate with statutory and non-statutory organisations to promote use of public access defibrillators.

    Stated by Resuscitation Council UKStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 October 2016.
  15. 15

    Work with first aid organisations to disseminate recommendations on bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation across the UK.

    Stated by Resuscitation Council UKStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 October 2016.
  16. 16

    Redesign signage for public access defibrillators to improve device visibility and use during public cardiac arrests.

    Stated by Resuscitation Council UKStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 October 2016.
  17. 17

    Run immediate and advanced life support courses that promote awareness and use of public defibrillators.

    Stated by Resuscitation Council UKStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 October 2016.

Recipient positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when they do not describe a specific action.1

  1. 1

    Ambulance services are responsible for answering the unresolved issues concerning defibrillation and defibrillator battery failure.

    Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Write to the Association of Colleges to draw the further education guidance to members’ attention.

Verbatim wording from the response

“My department published a guide on automated external defibrillators in April 2016, which is available at: tinyurl.com/zn82vva. Since this tragic incident, we have published new guidance that is more relevant to further education colleges. I shall be writing to the Association of Colleges to draw this guidance to the attention of their members.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-Department-for-Education
Page 1 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Deliver national awareness campaigns and associated resources and training events promoting bystander CPR.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The BHF has been a key partner in running national awareness campaigns about the importance of bystander CPR skills on “European Restart a Heart Day” for 3 years and have recently worked with a number of partners including the UK Resuscitation Council, British Red Cross, St John Ambulance and the 14 UK ambulance services to provide resources and support training of 150,000 young people in one day at a number of events across the UK on 18th October 2016.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-British-Heart-Foundation
Page 2 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Work with the UK Resuscitation Council to redesign public access defibrillator signs to improve visibility and bystander use.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Improving accessibility and availability of PADs The BHF provide part funding to community groups to enable them to purchase a PAD for their local area and have awarded 435 PADs already in 2016 and we are currently managing and distributing the £1,000,000 PAD funding project awarded to the Department of Health from the treasury budget in 2016 which will provide more PADs to local communities in England. The BHF are working closely with the UK Resuscitation Council to redesign the signs for PADs in order to improve visibility and increase bystander use in public access areas.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-British-Heart-Foundation
Page 3 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Implement research findings in clinical practice to help families affected by inherited heart conditions receive appropriate care quickly.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Genetic Information Service In addition to significant funding in medical research into inherited heart conditions that can cause sudden death, we have also invested in implementing the research finding in clinical practice so that families affected by an inherited heart condition can receive the appropriate care quickly. We also provide a Genetic Information Service for families affected by inherited heart conditions and support families where a diagnosis of an inherited heart condition has been made in a living or a deceased family member. Coroners are also encouraged to call the Genetic Information Service for advice if they suspect an individual has died due to an inherited heart condition and need advice on how to refer the surviving family members for treatment.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-British-Heart-Foundation
Page 3 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Continue supporting Heartstart schemes that teach first aid, choking, bleeding and CPR skills.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Training resources Making CPR training more accessible, the BHF has a programme called Call Push Rescue which is a unique self-directed learning kit that is free to eligible secondary schools and community groups. There are currently over 2300 secondary schools and over 1800 adult and youth community groups who are part of this programme. We are also working with partners including Scotland and Greater Manchester fire and rescue services to support CPR training in schools and local communities. Furthermore the BHF works with a number of corporate partners, BHF retail shops and workplaces to offer CPR training to employees. We are continuing to support our 2000 existing Heartstart schemes who teach a more in depth first aid course covering choking, bleeding and CPR skills and this has meant the BHF has helped to train over 1.6 million people since 2014.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-British-Heart-Foundation
Page 2 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Provide a Genetic Information Service supporting families affected by inherited heart conditions and advising coroners on referrals for surviving relatives.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Genetic Information Service In addition to significant funding in medical research into inherited heart conditions that can cause sudden death, we have also invested in implementing the research finding in clinical practice so that families affected by an inherited heart condition can receive the appropriate care quickly. We also provide a Genetic Information Service for families affected by inherited heart conditions and support families where a diagnosis of an inherited heart condition has been made in a living or a deceased family member. Coroners are also encouraged to call the Genetic Information Service for advice if they suspect an individual has died due to an inherited heart condition and need advice on how to refer the surviving family members for treatment.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-British-Heart-Foundation
Page 3 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Provide grant funding for a UK-wide out-of-hospital cardiac arrest registry to support service-improvement audit.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Research The BHF provides grant funding for a UK wide out-of-hospital cardiac arrest registry at Warwick University which will support audit of service improvement. The BHF and its partners have developed a series of initiatives to try to improve bystander CPR and PAD use, but how effective these projects are is not known. The Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Outcomes project at Warwick will collect information to work out the best ways of improving the bystander response to cardiac arrest. We also have links with other countries in Europe and with hospital specialists to further develop our understanding of the best ways to improve survival from cardiac arrest.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-British-Heart-Foundation
Page 3 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Provide free CPR training kits and support CPR training through schools, community groups, workplaces and partner organisations.

Verbatim wording from the response

“• increasing the rate of bystander CPR by providing free CPR training kits to schools and the general public; and”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-British-Heart-Foundation
Page 2 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Provide community groups with part funding to purchase public access defibrillators and manage distribution of the Department of Health PAD funding project.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Improving accessibility and availability of PADs The BHF provide part funding to community groups to enable them to purchase a PAD for their local area and have awarded 435 PADs already in 2016 and we are currently managing and distributing the £1,000,000 PAD funding project awarded to the Department of Health from the treasury budget in 2016 which will provide more PADs to local communities in England. The BHF are working closely with the UK Resuscitation Council to redesign the signs for PADs in order to improve visibility and increase bystander use in public access areas.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-British-Heart-Foundation
Page 3 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Meet with the Chief Coroner for England to raise awareness of the Genetic Information Service among coroners and coroners’ officers.

Verbatim wording from the response

“To date we have had two meetings with the Chief Coroner for England to raise awareness of the Service amongst coroners and coroners’ officers.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-British-Heart-Foundation
Page 3 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Convene expert advisory groups and participate in collaborations developing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest strategies and national resuscitation frameworks.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Key collaborations The BHF are convening expert advisory groups with representation from the four nations to improve out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates through a wide system approach and we are part of a number of key collaborations. The BHF are working with the NHS & Welsh Government to develop an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest strategy in Wales. We have been supporting the Community Resuscitation steering group in England chaired by ████████ to develop a national framework document “resuscitation to recovery” to improve care of people with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in England. BHF are a member of the Scottish Government Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest strategy delivery group which aims to improve survival rates in Scotland.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-British-Heart-Foundation
Page 3 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Review options for developing a national public access defibrillator database accessible to ambulance services.

Verbatim wording from the response

“There are currently an unknown number of PADs across the UK (the figure is estimated to be 100,000) and importantly there is no central database which captures information regarding the location of these PADs for the UK ambulance services. If emergency call responders at the ambulance service were able to locate the closest defibrillator via a national database then they could direct a bystander to the PAD and this may impact on improving survival rates. The BHF are investing funds to review options to develop a National PAD database, which would be accessible to all ambulance services and make locating the PADs much easier.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-British-Heart-Foundation
Page 3 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Fund research projects on resuscitation and defibrillation to improve knowledge and use of automated external defibrillators.

Verbatim wording from the response

“• Research The RC (UK) funds a number of research projects relating to resuscitation and in particular defibrillation that contribute to our knowledge and use of AEDs.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-Resuscitation-Council-UK
Page 2 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Collaborate with statutory and non-statutory organisations to promote use of public access defibrillators.

Verbatim wording from the response

“• Collaboration We regularly work with statutory and non-statutory organisations where we share common aims in order to promote the use of PADs. We have been contributing a major project with the Department of Health to produce a national framework to improve the treatment of patients with cardiac arrest (Resuscitation to Recovery: A National Framework to improve care of people with Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) in England. 2016) This document makes specific recommendations with regards to improving availability of PADs.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-Resuscitation-Council-UK
Page 2 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Work with first aid organisations to disseminate recommendations on bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation across the UK.

Verbatim wording from the response

“• Guidelines The RC (UK) is a contributor to international and European resuscitation guidelines from which are distilled the UK resuscitation guidelines. We work with key first aid organisations (e.g. ambulance service, RNLI, St John etc.) to ensure that recommendations relating to bystander CPR and defibrillation are disseminated as appropriate throughout the entire UK. Additionally, in conjunction with the British Heart Foundation, we have recently published ‘A guide to Automated External Defibrillators’ which is designed to provide information about AEDs and how they can be deployed within the community to help resuscitate a victim of sudden cardiac arrest.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-Resuscitation-Council-UK
Page 2 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Redesign signage for public access defibrillators to improve device visibility and use during public cardiac arrests.

Verbatim wording from the response

“• Improving the availability of AEDs We are currently working with the Department of Health to oversee the distribution of £1,000,000 funding for public access defibrillators across communities in the UK. After extensive public consultation, we have redesigned the signage to be used for all PADs in order to improve the visibility of the devices and increase their use at cardiac arrests in public areas.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-Resuscitation-Council-UK
Page 2 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Run immediate and advanced life support courses that promote awareness and use of public defibrillators.

Verbatim wording from the response

“• Training The RC (UK) runs a number of immediate and advanced life support courses which help promote the wider need for awareness of defibrillators in public places, training approximately 150,000 medical professionals each year.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-Resuscitation-Council-UK
Page 1 · response
Published 25 October 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Ambulance services are responsible for answering the unresolved issues concerning defibrillation and defibrillator battery failure.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Subsequently, a second ambulance crew arrived and a defibrillation shock was administered but this delay reduced the chances of successful defibrillation. This was then further compounded by the battery failure of the second defibrillator. Why there was battery failure is unclear as defibrillators should be fully charged and checked daily. We are aware of an alert for Lifepak defibrillators where premature battery failure has led to an alert, but it is not clear whether this defibrillator was of that make. The ambulance services will be able to answer the issues we are unable to clearly respond to above.”

Source location

2016-0376-Response-by-NHS-England
Page 1 · response
Published 25 October 2016

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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026